Acts 9:10

Introduction

Last weeks theme was God’s amazing grace as seen through Saul’s conversion.

This week’s theme is the power of grace as seen in the life of Ananias

We do not have any record of Ananias’s activities before he became a disciple of the Lord: however, we do know the kind of person he was:

Unjust

Sinful

Unrighteous

Self-centered

Corrupt

Deserving of God’s eternal judgement and wrath

How did Ananias transform from a wicked and evil person to a disciple of Jesus?

Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Who is the “our” and “us”?

Romans 1:7 “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

How is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts? The Holy Spirit.

1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.”

Loving God has 2 ideas

John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

We need to learn from Jesus.

Illustration - speed limit sign.

This is the definition of disciple

A disciple is a learner 0 They are more than students but someone who develops, grows and becomes stronger in the subject they are a student of.

As this relates to Ananias - He was developing, growing and becoming stronger in his relationship with Jesus.

It is fascinating to do a word search on how Luke employed the term “disciple” is his two volumes. A picture develops on what it means to have the love of God shed abroad in a person’s heart and consequently become a disciple of Jesus.

Following Jesus

In the presence of Jesus

Obeying Jesus

Being taught by Jesus

Asking question

Being rebuked

Rejoicing in the mighty works of God

Tell others about Jesus

Gather together

What transformative event happened in Ananias’ life that allowed him to go from wickedness to a disciple of the Lord? The love of God!

The seriousness of being a disciple of Jesus. Can a person be a Christian without being a disciple?

They have a faulty transactional view of grace - They view grace in accounting terms

Sin is the eternal debt

God sent His Son to cancel the debt

Jesus rose from the grave as a demonstration that this debt was paid and that death has been defeated

Transaction - Faith in Jesus - credit has been transferred to our account and sins blotted out

Handed a receipt paid in full.

Illustration - I want to be a Christian not a disciple.

The person has a complete misunderstanding of the term “Christian.”

The way

Brothers

Disciples

Christians

These are all different ways of saying the same truth - 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The faith that saves changes our affections towards Jesus. We are not indifferent towards Him - We pursue Him in love!

Therefore, much like last week when we saw God’s amazing grace towards Saul - The just dying for the unjust did not apply to only Saul but all of us. As week look at the power of grace - this did not apply only to Ananias but every convert of Jesus!

Lets consider the effects of the power of grace this morning

The Lord speaks to them through His word:

Personal - Acts 9:10-11 “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,”

Jesus called out Ananias by name

His message was directed at Ananias

Even though God’s words have been written by a number of people, through a number of time periods, thousands of years ago to culturally different people, this book was written with me in mind.

The Book of Acts was not just written to Theophilus but me.

It is enjoyable and refreshing when God’s word speaks directly to you.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

God’s word is living and active.

Who hears His word?

John 10:27-30 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

Jesus is the Word of Life. His words were spiritual and life giving. His words had the power to create something from nothing. Yet, most of the Jews rejected Jesus! Why? they were not His sheep.

Does not matter how often you come to church, how many Bible stories you know or verses memorized, does god’s word speak to you by strengthening your doctrine, reproof, correction or instruction?

The Function of a disciple Master relationship

Acts 9:10-11 “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,”

We are joint-heirs with Jesus, His friends and brothers and sisters of His.

But in the function of us being His disciple, He is the Lord.

Why must He be the Lord

He is the highest virtue in the universe. For us not to embrace His Lordship is to exalt ourselves as a higher virtue, which id idolatry.

He knows everything. If He is not the Lord then we are declaring God’s word to be a lie!

In the end, His words are all that matter!

Matthew 25:21 “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Matthew 7:23 “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

He will often tell us to do activities that seem unreasonable.

Acts 9:11-14 “And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.”

Obedience - regardless of cost

Acts 9:15-17 “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”

This is where the rubber meats the road.

Trust in God’s word

Trust in God’s way

Trust in God’s wisdom

Adam and Eve failed in the Garden of Eden, Abraham failed when he had Sarah lie about her complete identity, David failed when he slept with Bathsheba, and counted the armies of Israel, Peter failed after two great accomplishments - Confession and walking on water.

The difference between them and the world is, they did not stay there the world does!

The relationship you have with other disciples

Acts 9:17 “And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Conclusion

The reason God’s amazing grace has great power to change us is the resurrection.

The first sermon ever preached in the church of Jesus Christ when it was born on the Day of Pentecost was a resurrection sermon. And as you follow the life of the church through the book of Acts, the resurrection is the theme. In chapter 2, Peter preaches resurrection. In chapter 4, he preaches it again. In chapter 10, he preaches it again. In chapter 7, Stephen preaches the resurrection. In chapter 8, Philip preaches the resurrection. In chapters 9, 13 and so forth on through 28, Paul preaches the resurrection.

And then you enter into the epistles and the theme is always the resurrection. In Romans, Christ is raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father. In 1 Corinthians, He rose again the third day according to the Scripture. In 2 Corinthians, He who raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also. In Galatians, by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead. In Ephesians, He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. In Phillipians, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection. In Colossians, it is God who raised Him from the dead. In Thessalonians, His Son whom He raised from the dead. In 1 Peter, Peter says, “He has begotten us to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

And the last book of the New Testament echoes the theme of the resurrection as Christ Himself initiates the book in the great statement, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I am He that was dead and am alive forevermore and have the keys of hell and death.” And so it is from the resurrection to the close of the New Testament, the theme is always that He rose from the dead. We must not be fooled by Satan’s efforts to hide the resurrection in the foolishness of the world.

Ephesians 1:19–20 KJV 1900

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,